2018 American League East Outright Odds, Prediction

The New York Yankees were one of the most feared teams at the plate in Major League Baseball last season. The off-season addition of slugger Giancarlo Stanton will only strengthen the Yankees’ batting lineup, but will it be enough to win the American League East Division? The Bronx Bombers are the early frontrunners heading into the 2018 MLB campaign, but there are definitely other legitimate contenders for the division title. Let’s break it all down.

New York Yankees (-145)

Fresh off a remarkable season, there are high expectations surrounding the New York Yankees in 2018. Oddsmakers not only have the Bronx Bombers as contenders to win the AL East, but other are pegging the Yanks to win the American League pennant all together. With a lineup that features the power bats of Aaron Judge and the newly acquired Giancarlo Stanton, the Yankees will put up runs with ease this season — especially for a team that led the majors with 241 home runs a year ago. At -145, bettors will be lining up to get that attractive line while they can, because once the season gets rolling, expect that line to rise.

Boston Red Sox (+145)

After firing manager John Farrell in the off-season, many believed the Red Sox took a step backwards. However, online bookies, including Bodog, still have the Red Sox at +145 to win the American League East Division. The addition of new manager Alex Cora, who was part of the coaching staff that led the Houston Astros to glory in 2017, will play a huge part in Boston’s success in 2018. With arguably one of the best starting rotations in the major leagues, the Red Sox are once again in a position to challenge for a division crown and potentially even a World Series championship.

Toronto Blue Jays (+850)

Considered to be among the World Series favourites a couple years ago, the Toronto Blue Jays missed their window of opportunity. However, with a few key additions in the off-season, the Blue Jays could make a little noise. At +850, many bettors will be inclined to take a shot, especially if Josh Donaldson — the 2015 American League MVP — can return to that form when the Jays begin the season. The real question will be on the mound. A solid starting rotation that features Marcus Stroman and Aaron Sanchez, if the two pitchers can stay healthy, the Jays will have a great shot at contending for a division crown in 2018.

Tampa Bay Rays (+3300)

There are going to be extremely hard times in Tampa Bay and that will begin as soon as the 2018 season for the Rays. The franchise has shed salary over the last couple of seasons and focused on building through draft picks. The club’s early struggles were on display during spring training as the Rays were 25th overall in batting average and 25th overall in runs scored. The bright spot for the Rays will be ace Chris Archer, who continues to put up nice stats despite not getting the run support. The Rays are +3300 long shots to win the division — an unlikely scenario.

Baltimore Orioles (+5000)

The O’s might be the biggest bargain heading into the 2018 MLB season. Following a dreadful 75-87 season, oddsmakers have the Orioles at +5000 to win the division in the upcoming campaign. However, this is the same team that went 89-73 a year prior. If Manny Machado, Mark Trumbo and Chris Davis can all have bounce-back seasons, the Orioles may be a great sleeper pick at +5000 heading into the 2018 regular season. It was on the mound where the O’s really struggled last season — putting up a dismal 4.97 ERA. Only the New York Mets, Cincinnati Reds and Detroit Tigers were worse in that category.

The Toronto Raptors have emerged as the main contenders against the reign of the Golden State Warriors in 2019. NBA futures betting show Golden State as overpowering favorites to win another championship, especially in a weakened western conference. However, the rise of the eastern conference this season will produce a strong challenge from Toronto, the Boston Celtics or the Philadelphia 76ers, all of whom feature the personnel needed to upset the champs.

Super Bowl LIII takes place on February 3rd at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. An unprecedented offensive outburst from the league this season promises a high-scoring championship game. NFL Super Bowl futures over the stretch run features the Rams, Saints, Chiefs and Patriots as popular favorites. Clubs like the Los Angeles Chargers and Pittsburgh Steelers offer superb value as potential contenders.

There’s no precedent to the Golden State Warriors, who will be overwhelming NBA futures betting favorites to win their third consecutive championship. No team in history has ever fielded a starting lineup consisting of all-stars like the Warriors, a situation most teams can't compete against. Even great contenders like the Boston Celtics, Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers will be longshots to win the 2019 NBA Finals.

Week 14 in the NFL begins a last ditch effort for franchises who still have a shot at making the post season. Clubs like the Panthers and Vikings need victories to avoid another disappointing season. Carolina's a solid bet to beat the Browns, but Minnesota's far from a lock against Seattle. The best NFL spread picks this week also include the Patriots, Rams and Packers.